Ask HN: Is GitHub preparing to go behind a login wall?

#1

Post by reconnecting » Tue, Jul 07, 2026, 6:40 PM UTC

From time to time, I check that our open-source project is still available to all users, and I've occasionally noticed that the stargazers (1) information returns a 404 for non-logged-in users.

I assume they're preparing to follow the LinkedIn model by making access available to registered users only.

Have you noticed that GitHub has started blocking access to certain functions/pages for users without an account?

1. https://github.com/tirrenotechnologies/tirreno/stargazers

Re: Ask HN: Is GitHub preparing to go behind a login wall?

#2

Post by toomuchtodo » Tue, Jul 07, 2026, 6:41 PM UTC

Hard to say, the only people who know are those internal to MS and GH and know, or who have told others. You have copies of your repos in other systems, yeah? Have a plan you don't need rather than need a plan you don't have.

Ask HN: What alternatives to GitHub are you using? - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44876289 - August 2025 (97 comments)

Re: Ask HN: Is GitHub preparing to go behind a login wall?

#3

Post by reconnecting » Tue, Jul 07, 2026, 6:43 PM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #2

Hard to say, the only people who know are those internal to MS and GH and know, or who have told others. You have copies of your repos in other systems, yeah? Have a plan you don't need rather than need a plan you don't have. Ask HN: What alternatives to GitHub are you using? - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44876289 - August 2025 (97 comments)

Codeberg constantly returns this just because I use an outdated Safari: 'If you are an AI scraper and wish to not receive garbage when visiting Codeberg: stop visiting. If you are not an AI scraper: contact Codeberg.'

Re: Ask HN: Is GitHub preparing to go behind a login wall?

#4

Post by toomuchtodo » Tue, Jul 07, 2026, 6:45 PM UTC

reconnecting wrote: post #3

toomuchtodo wrote: post #2

Hard to say, the only people who know are those internal to MS and GH and know, or who have told others. You have copies of your repos in other systems, yeah? Have a plan you don't need rather than need a plan you don't have. Ask HN: What alternatives to GitHub are you using? - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44876289 - August 2025 (97 comments)

Codeberg constantly returns this just because I use an outdated Safari: 'If you are an AI scraper and wish to not receive garbage when visiting Codeberg: stop visiting. If you are not an AI scraper: contact Codeberg.'

Perhaps https://tangled.sh/ or a https://forgejo.org/ instance is an option?

Re: Ask HN: Is GitHub preparing to go behind a login wall?

#5

Post by dieselgate » Tue, Jul 07, 2026, 6:47 PM UTC

I don't have an immediate direct source but read yesterday GitHub stars are being "obfuscated" because they're being scraped to spam popular projects -- or something similar.

Edit found the link [0], do not believe it mentions reason but links github blog

From Github [1]: > These endpoints and views currently expose public lists of stargazers and watchers, and this information has increasingly been misused to collect user data for spam activities which negatively impacts user experience and platform trust.

[0]: https://www.star-history.com/blog/github-stargazer-api-restr...

[1] https://github.blog/changelog/2026-06-30-upcoming-access-res...

Re: Ask HN: Is GitHub preparing to go behind a login wall?

#6

Post by bearjaws » Tue, Jul 07, 2026, 6:47 PM UTC

Looking at how much work GitLab has to do due to abuse of being open, I don't blame anyone for wanting to make that change.

Re: Ask HN: Is GitHub preparing to go behind a login wall?

#7

Post by fodkodrasz » Tue, Jul 07, 2026, 6:49 PM UTC

The whole GitHub infra is cracking under the AI-boom's increased load. This can very well be just another symptom of the same thing.

Re: Ask HN: Is GitHub preparing to go behind a login wall?

#8

Post by jsnell » Tue, Jul 07, 2026, 6:50 PM UTC

Just to nitpick, requiring a free account is substantially different from a paywall.

Re: Ask HN: Is GitHub preparing to go behind a login wall?

#9

Post by pixelesque » Tue, Jul 07, 2026, 6:50 PM UTC

Advanced Search doesn't work unless you're logged in, but it's been like that for at least a year.

Re: Ask HN: Is GitHub preparing to go behind a login wall?

#10

Post by reconnecting » Tue, Jul 07, 2026, 6:59 PM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #4

reconnecting wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Codeberg constantly returns this just because I use an outdated Safari: 'If you are an AI scraper and wish to not receive garbage when visiting Codeberg: stop visiting. If you are not an AI scraper: contact Codeberg.'

Perhaps https://tangled.sh/ or a https://forgejo.org/ instance is an option?

The question is rather whether GitHub is no longer an option, or will stop being one soon.